Slide fastener element



May 6, 1952 Filed Aug. 10, 1945 R. C. LEGAT SLIDE FASTENEIR ELEMENT 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WIT/V555 gwywm INVENTOR. 7805587 0. 1,564 r BY y y 6, 1952 R. c. LEGAT 2,596,077

SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENT Filed Aug. 10, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESS INVENTOR. [Beef/er Glfbflr BY V JTTORWEVS Patented May 6, 1952 SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENT Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The G. E. Prentice Mfg. 00., Kensington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 10, 1945, Serial No. 610,068

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the manufacture of separable fasteners of the type having flexible supports provided on the opposed edges thereof with cooperating series of locking elements adapted to be progressively interlocked or disengaged by means of a manually operated slider. In fasteners of the type indicated, the locking elements are usually formed with two ends or jaws by which they are connected to the flexible supports. Heretofore, the locking elements have been usually secured in position on the supports either by clamping the ends or jaws thereof, to the fabric material of the supports, or by causing such ends to pierce the material of the supports and then compressing them thereon, or by adhesively connecting such ends to the supports. A disadvantage of clamping or compressing the ends of the elements onto the supports, is the likelihood of the fabric fibers, being crushed or cut by the material, of the elements, thus weak ening the supports. On the other hand, adhesively connecting the elements to the supports is likely to soil and stiffen the latter. Furthermore, whether the element is clamped, compressed or adhesively secured by its ends or jaws to the support, such attachment of the element to the support is no stronger than its bond thereto, and it has not been an uncommon occurrence for an element 50 attached, to be shifted or loosened or even torn from its anchorage through usage, thereby rendering the entire fastener structure inoperative.

The principal purpose of the present invention is to improve the manufacture of separable fasteners so that they will not possess the above disadvantages and more particularly, to attach the elements to the supports so that they will be positively and securely fixed in position and so that the bond therebetween is as strong as the material of which the support is constituted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener structure having advantages of construction and operation over prior fasteners of this type, and which can be manufactured without waste and economically in large quantities.

Other objects and advantages of the invention as well as the novel features thereof will become apparent after a perusal of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the die mechanism for manufacturing the fastener of this invention, the view being taken along the line II of Fig. 2 and illustrating an intermediate step in the formation of the element on the support; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the die mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational View of a portion of the die, the view being a central sectional view of the female die parts as is indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 4 of the drawings and illustrating the step of forming the interlocking end of the locking element; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showingin enlarged detail, the construction and arrangement to the die mechanism; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a support illustrating an initial step in forming a locking element thereon, in accordance with this invention; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the locking element after the first bending operation; Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the locking element after its ends have been compressed or bent together as a result of closing the die; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 "and shows the form of the finished element after it has been subjected to the dieing operation illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the element being shown with its locking recess upward, and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the completed element with its locking projection upward.

In the drawings, the reference numeral l0 designates the supports of the fastener. The supports Ill are flexible and are preferably made of fabric tapes having beaded edges II around which the looking or fastener elements l2 are formed (see Figs. 8 and 9). The locking elements are arranged along the beaded edges of the two supports of the fastener in uniformly and accurately spaced relation and in such manner that the elements of one support may be brought into interfingered relation with. the elements of the other support or disengaged from such interflngered engagement by a slider (not shown) which is manually operated through a pull tab.

In one desirable embodiment of the invention, the locking elements I2 are made from round wires or filaments bent upon themselves about the beaded edges I I of the supports I II to provide an integral, link-like attaching portion and two end portions which are formed into the locking end of the element. As is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the section of round wire or filament I3 which is to form the locking element, is inserted through the flexible support I0 just back of the beaded edge II of the support so that its ends extend equal distances from each side of the support. The length of the wire I3 is such that when the two ends are bent about the bead II in the manner to be described, there will be sufficient material to form a locking element of the desired size. The initial bending of the wire I3 is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the wire l3 after this operation having a substantially U-shaped configuration and its ends l4 projecting forwardly beyond the beaded edge H of the support It. The wire I3 is then squeezed to clamp it securely in position on the beaded edge II and at the same time, to bring together into close side-by-side relation, the projecting portions or ends l4 thereof. This step in the formation of the locking element is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings which, shows that the end portions have been "moved from their spaced condition without disturbing their substantially parallel relation so that there,

is no space between such two end portions throughout their lengths. The projecting .end portions l4, M of the wire. |3 are then subjected to a dieing operation to give them the form shown in- Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, wherein such end portions are provided with a locking recess l and a locking projection l6. Thewire |3 utilized in the formation of the element may be constituted of any suitable material capable of forming satisfactory elements. When a metal wire is used, it is preferred that it beof dead soft brass as this material is not only readily workable but also possesses the advantage that it hardens as it is worked. When the wire or filament used is constituted of a plastic material, the operations on such wire in the formation of the element, may be carried out with the: use of heat, as iswell-known in the art.

The formation of the wire section l3 into the finished locking element illustrated in Figs. 8-

and 9 of the drawings, may be accomplished readily by the die mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The wire or filament for forming the elements and from which sections like the wire section |3 are cut, may be drawn from a reel and fed to the die mechanism by either hitch or roll feed, a type of roll feed being indicated generally in Fig. 2 of the drawings by the intermittently operating feed rolls l9, It. From the feed rolls I9, IS the wire 20 passes into a longitudinal opening in a guide block 2| whose inner end 2| serves as a portion of a guideway for a forming tool 22'(note Figs. 1, 2' and 4). During the feed of the wire 20, the forming tool 22 is in retracted position so that the wire advances to' a position where its advanced end comes into-engagement with the stop or inner surface portion 23 of a guide block 24. During its travel to the stop surface 23, the wire 20 passes through an opening 25 which has been formed in the flexible support it of the fastener just in back of its bead I '(note Fig. 3). The flexible support lil is fed in a vertical direction downwardly and. with a step-bystep motion, the support in such feed being guided so that it is positioned intermediate the inner end 2| of the guide block 2| and the stop surface 23 with the previously formed opening 25' therein in alignment with the feed of the wire 20. Thus, when the wire 20 comes intoengagement with the stop 23, there will be disposed on both sides of the flexible support it, equal length portionsof the wire- 20.

The opening 25 is'formed in the support if! during a pause in the step-by-step feed of the latter by means of a pin 26 provided on the innerend of a;block.2'| slidably mounted on the guideublock'2l and in the longitudinal opening formed by the guide plates 28, 29and 30. The

' projecting portion 37 of the guide block 24.

pin block 27 is provided with an actuating member 3| which projects upwardly through a slot 32 in the guide plate 28 (see Fig. l) and is engaged by the forked end of an actuating lever 33 pivotally mounted at as on the die base 35. The lever 33 is connected to mechanism adapted to actuate it in a clockwise direction, as. viewed in Fig. 1, during each pause in the intermittent feed of the flexible support it. The longitudinal axis of the pin 25 is positioned directly over the longitudinal axis of the wire 28 fed through the guide block 2| and so related to the position of the support it, that as it is advanced by the actuating lever 33 through member 3|, it passes through the support just in back of the bead H, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, toform thehole 25. In its advancement, the pin 26 enters a guide recess 35 formed in a The plates 28, 29 and iii and guide block portion 31, thus, accurately-position and guide the movements of the pin 2|; relative to the fiexiblesupportit. The-distance between the longitudinal axis of pin 25-and the longitudinal axis of the opening in guide block 2| through which the wire 22 is fed, isexactly equal to the distance between the centers of attachment of the looking elements l2 formed on thesupport I0 and the step-by-stepfeed of such support is such that when the pin 26 has been retracted by the actuating lever 33 and the support H] has been ment with the feed of the wire 22.

Afterthe' advanced end of thewire 29 comes into engagement with. the stop surface'23, it is subjected to cutting .and bending operations to give it the'form shown in Fig. 6 of the-drawings. These operationsare accomplishedby the forming toolZZ which isreciprocated in directions transverse to the feed of the wire during the pauses inl the: step-by-step feed of the flexible support ill. The tool 22 isguided in its reciproeating 'movementsby theiguide blocks 2|, 24, 29 and 3tand passes beneath the pin blocki 2'1 and theprojecting portion: 31: of block 24 in the region of. its operation as is shown'more clearly in Figs. 1 and l of'theidrawings. The working end'of'tlie forming tool 22 is fork-shaped to allow its end portions til, 26 to pass 0n.either side of the support iii duringthe advancing movementof such tool without. disturbing such support. "Adjacent the forwardv ends of the portions 23, '36. the. opposed side walls thereof, are concaved'a toenlargej the slot 4|; thereb'etween into .-.asubstantial1y .U-shaped form. 'Forwardly of such. enlarged portionof the. slotM, thecpposed sidewalls of the portionsv 20,40 are inclined' forwardly to provide: the convexly-shaped bending surface portions 42, 32. It will thus be understood that: as the forming tool is advanced during each pause in the step-by-step feed of the support iflby suitable mechanism (not shown),the left hand end portion 40 thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, coacts with the inner end of the guide block 2| to cut or sever the portion of wire 2 fi projectingbeyond such block to form the wire section l3. The cut section l3 of wire (see Fig. 5 is then bent by the surface portions 42, 42 of'tocl 22 during their advancing movement about'the bead H of the support I0. At this.time,"the punch 43 has been positioned in front. of the bead ('seeFigs. land 3) "and enables such-bending operation to "take place about the bead by providing a rigid support for the latter against the force required to bend the wire section I3. As the forming tool 22 moves to its fully advanced position, the out section of wire I3, bead II and punch 43 enter the enlarged end portion of the slot 4|, at which time, the wire section I3 is completely bent into the U-shaped form shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In the next step-by-step movement of the support III, the U-shaped wire section passes between the spread die members 44, 44 which are slidably confined between two guide bars 45, 45 secured to the base 35 and are normally maintained in spread or open condition by the springs 46, 46 therebetween. In its feed, the support l passes between the springs 45, 46 as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The die members 44, 44 are provided at their outer, upper ends with beveled surfaces 41, 41 adapted to be engaged by the beveled surfaces 48, 43 provided on the inner lower ends of the die actuating members 49, 49 of the punch and cooperable to force the die members 44, 44 together against the tension of the springs 46, 46 in the advancement of the punch. When the die members 44, 44 aresubstahtially closed, the body portions of the members 49, 49' pass between such die members and the back stop strips 50, 59 mounted on the die base 35. It will be noted that the left-hand die actuating member 49 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, is forked and straddles the guide block 2i extending transversely thereof. The die actuating members 49, 45 are integrally connected together at their upper ends by a bridging portion which adjustably carries the punch 43, the whole being mounted on the lower end of a punch actuating rod 52 which is connected to intermittently actuating mechanism, not shown.

The inner opposed ends of the die members 44, 44 are each provided with one-half of the die female 53, which, when the die members 44, 44 are closed, is so formed as to give the end portions I4 of the bent wire section I3, the conformation shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. When the punch 43 then descends, the locking recess I5 and the locking projection I6 is formed, giving to the projecting ends I4 of the wire section I3, the conformation shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Provided below the die 53 is a recess 54 formed when the die members 44, 44 are closed and adapted to receive a previously formed looking member, the inner or upper wall of such recess 54 being spaced from the lower surface of the die 53, a distance exactly equal to the spacing between the surfaces of the elements engaging said parts in the finished fastener. The recess 54 communicates with an enlarged opening 55 in the die mechanism through which the finished support or stringer is fed.

From the foregoing, it will be understood, that when the support I0 is ready to advance on its next step-by-step movement during its feed through the machine, the forming tool 22 and pin 28 will be retracted, the punch 43 will be raised and the die members 44, 44 will be held open or separated under the tension of springs 46, 45. As the support I0 moves downwardly on the next step of its feed, the open hole 25 therein formed in the, previous operation, moves into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the opening in guide block 2I, the wire section l3 in the form shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings moves into the region of the female die members 53, 53 and the fastener element I2 completed in the previous cycle of operations moves from between the die members 53, 53 into the region of the recess 54 formed between the die members 44, 44 in the latters closed condition. When the support It has advanced to and pauses at the end of each step-by-step movement in the feed thereof, the actuating rod 52 of the punch, descends to bring the inclined surfaces 48 of the punch members 49 49', into engagement with the beveled surfaces: 41 of the die members 44. As the rod 52 continues its downward movement, the coacting surfaces 41 and 48 force the die members 44 together against the tension of the springs 45 to close the die 53. During the closing of the two female die members forming the die 53, the wire section I3 is changed by the squeezing action of such memhere from the form shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to that shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The closing action of die 53 is completed when the surfaces 41 and 48 disengage and the inner surfaces of the punch members 49, 49 come into engagement with the side surfaces of the die members 44 to lock the latter in closed position. At the same time that this locking action occurs, the punch 43 comes into engagement with the projecting ends M of the bent wire section I3 positioned in the now closed die 53 to form the fastener element into its final shape (see Figs. 8 and 9). It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, that the punch 43 is in engagement with the outer edge portion of the bead I I during its descending movement. Thus, the

punch 43 forms a rigid backing for the bead II during the initial bending of the wire section I3 by the forming tool 22 to bring it into the shape shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, as has been described. This operation takes place after the pin 26 has been advanced to pierce a hole 25 in the support I0 and when the punch 43 is in its fully advanced position and is pausing momentarily before being retracted.

It will be noted from the foregoing, that in the practice of the invention, there is no loss whatsoever from waste. The whole of each of the sections I3 that are out off from the feed wire 20 goes into the manufacture of the locking elebe pulled off the support without the fabric material of the latter first being destroyed. In this manner, the locking elements I2 are permanently fixed to the support so that their connection therewith is no longer the weakest part of the structure. In other Words, where in prior fastener supports or stringers the strength thereof was no greater than the strength of the bond between the locking elements and the support, in the fastener structure of this invention, the

strength is at least as great as the strength of the material of the support and the bond of he elements to such support is greater than the structural strength of the latter. This feature is of material importance in these devices, because, the greatest stresses that they encounter While in use, are those stresses which tend to pull deeded-7 'ing- 'element has'a round configuration, i. e.,-the

exteriorsurfaces of the u shaped base or root thereof, is rounded both longitudinally and transversely and continueinan uninterrupted manner into theexterior surfaces of the looking portion which is also of'a substantially'round configuration. (Note therounded, somewhat triangular form of the locking portion-as is best shown-in- Figsaii ande of the-drawings.) I'his roundedconfiguration of the locking elements makesthem smooth tehandle, minimizes the danger of the elements catching fabrics,- and obviates any dangerto' the'person of.-the user, being-smooth of feel to the wearer's skin. This configuration of the locking elements has the added advantage that in the operation of a-slide fastener provided-with such locking e1ements, the elements" will not cut into the material of theslider-as'is the tendency of known types of locking elements which renders the slider in time loose and-less efficient in operation. Therounded shape or the-elements around the bead H of the support it assures that they will not crush or destroy the fibers of the support, whereby the" material of the support is not weakened as is the case inthosefasteners in which the looking elements are clamped inposition on the supports.

It w-ill be noted also from a comparison of Fig: '7

with" Figs- 8 and-9. of the drawings, that in the oomple-ted element, the material of the ends I4, I4 have been worked as a result of the dieing operation,- so that they form a unitary locking portion in which the wall forming the locking recess [5 and pin is is relatively thin. Thus, the size of the wire sections used, can be picked to make locking elements of standard sizes but of less weight than looking elements of comparable sizes made according to other methods. Asa result of the dieing'operation' also, the material of such ends Hi, i l is worked so that the sides of the resulting locking portion are substantially in alignment with the sides of the U-shaped'base or root thereof and form .a continuation of the round exterior surfaces of the latter (note Figs.

4. ands). It will be noted also that as a result of the dieing operation, the two end portions I l, id havebeen in effect, welded or integrally bound together along thelongitudinal center line of the element with portions of both ends forming the locking recess and pin it. The recess'le is relatively broad and has a substantial depth, while thev locking pin Hi which extends from the rounded front and side surfaces 'of' the locking portion of the element, is somewhat shallower, thus providing in theinterlocked elements, an extremely flexible connection. This flexibility is enhanced by means of a depressed line or recess 56 extending transversely oi the element immediately in back of thelocking pin it (note' particularly Fig; 9) and formed by the portions 51 of the die-53 and the shoulder 58 of the punch 43 during the dieing operation (note Fig. 3). When the fastener elements are interlocked in a slide fastoner,v the depressed line or recess 56 will enable the elements to rock on themselves, thus making the fastener extremely flexible.

From a manufacturing standpoint, the locking elements of thisinvention also; possess certain advantages over prior known elements'particm' processes.

larly those prior elements which are-formed by a die-cutting operation. As a result of-such an.

operation, burrs and other irregularities are formed on the elements and it isaccordingl'y nec- 5 essary after the elements are. formed, 'tosubject them to mechanical brushing and 'deburring A fastener element made according to the instant invention however, would not 'haveto be so processed, for any burrs'or'irregularities which might have formed on the .ends of the wire section l3 as a resultof the cutting operation, would be entirely eliminated by the working of such ends during the carrying out of thedieing operation. Thus, the practice offlthe present invention effects a substantial saving in the cost of manufacturing the elements by entirely eliminating the need for such processes. Notonly is the cost of such processes removed, butthe elements.

produced by this invention will be much smoother -than' it would be possible'to make die-cutele-.

a fastener which includes brushed, :die-out ele- .;ments.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred form of my invention, it will be'understood by those skilled in the art, tha-t manychanges and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of theinventio'n or th scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A slide fastener comprising-a pair of flexible stringers'having opposed series of spaced locking elements adapted to be progressively engaged and disengaged, each of said elements being composed of a wire section formed abouta longitudinal edge of a stringer so as to entirely enclosea portion of such edge, and including a closed loopshaped attaching portion extending through the stringer adjacent to suchedge and enclosing such edge portion-,and including a locking portion projecting outwardly from-such edge, the opening in said attaching portion having an area less ggthan the cross sectional area'of said-longitudinal v:r tion, the combin'ed'materialof both such wire end portions being worked to provide a unitary, integral lockingportion having a locking pro-jeotion on one side and a recess on the opposite side,

the said projection and recessbeing formed in 5:.part' from each of said'wire end portions. V

' 2. A slide fastener com-prising'apair of flexible stringers, having opposed series ofspaoed locking elements adapted to be progressively engaged and disengagedeach of said elements-being composed 100T a wire section formediabout a longitudinal isuchedge portion, and includingalocking poo-f tionprojecting outwardly from such edge, the

opening 'in'such attaching portion having an area less than the cross sectional area-of'said longitu dinal edge intermediate the elements; and said looking portion being constituted and'consisting of straight, equal-length end portionsof said wire section arranged in contacting 'side-by -side rela tion, the combined material of both'suoh wire endportions being worked to provide aunitary,

integral lockingzportion having'a lockingproj'ec tion on one side and a recess on the opposite side, the said projection and recess being formed in part from each of said wire portions, the width of said locking portion being greater than twice the width of said wire in the loop-shaped attaching portion of said element and approximately the same as that of said loop-shaped attaching portion in the region of said longitudinal edge.

3. A slide fastener comprising a pair of flexible stringers having opposed series of spaced locking elements adapted to be progressively engaged and disengaged, each of said elements being composed of a wire section of round cross sectional area and formed about a longitudinal edge of a stringer so as to entirely enclose a portion of such edge, and including a closed loop-shaped attaching portion extending through the stringer adjacent to such edge and enclosing such edge portion, and including a locking portion projecting outwardly from such edge, the opening in said attaching portion having an area less than the cross sectional area of said longitudinal edge intermediate the elements, and said locking portion being constituted and consisting of straight equal length end portions of said wire section arranged in contacting side-'by-side relation, the combined material of both of such wire end portions being worked to provide a unitary, integral locking portion havinga locking projection on one side and a recess on the opposite side, the said projection and recess being formed in part from each of said wire end portions and being separated by a relatively thin wall formed from the material of both wire end sections, the exterior side surfaces of said locking portion being in substantial alignment with the sides of said attaching portion and forming a continuation of the round exterior surfaces of the latter.

ROBERT C. LEGAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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